AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 16-23-430, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE PROHIBITION ON THE CARRYING OF WEAPONS ON SCHOOL PROPERTY, SO AS TO PROVIDE AN EXCEPTION FOR PERSONS WHO ARE AUTHORIZED TO CARRY A CONCEALED WEAPON WHEN THE WEAPON IS INSIDE A MOTOR VEHICLE AND SECURED; AND TO AMEND SECTION 16-23-420, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE PROHIBITION ON THE CARRYING OR DISPLAYING OF FIREARMS IN PUBLIC BUILDINGS AND ADJACENT AREAS, SO AS TO PROVIDE AN EXCEPTION ON SCHOOL PROPERTY FOR PERSONS WHO ARE AUTHORIZED TO CARRY A CONCEALED WEAPON WHEN THE WEAPON IS INSIDE A MOTOR VEHICLE AND SECURED.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

Concealed weapons, school property exception

SECTION 1. Section 16-23-430 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"Section 16-23-430. (A) It shall be unlawful for any person, except state, county, or municipal law enforcement officers or personnel authorized by school officials, to carry on his person, while on any elementary or secondary school property, a knife, with a blade over two inches long, a blackjack, a metal pipe or pole, firearms, or any other type of weapon, device, or object which may be used to inflict bodily injury or death.

(B) This section does not apply to a person who is authorized to carry a concealed weapon pursuant to Article 4, Chapter 31, Title 23 when the weapon remains inside an attended or locked motor vehicle and is secured in a closed glove compartment, closed console, closed trunk, or in a closed container secured by an integral fastener and transported in the luggage compartment of the vehicle.

(C) A person who violates the provisions of this section is guilty of a felony and, upon conviction, must be fined not more than one thousand dollars or imprisoned not more than five years, or both. Any weapon or object used in violation of this section may be confiscated by the law enforcement division making the arrest."

Concealed weapons, school property exception

SECTION 2. Section 16-23-420(A) of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 294 of 2004, is further amended to read:

"Section 16-23-420. (A) It is unlawful for a person to possess a firearm of any kind on any premises or property owned, operated, or controlled by a private or public school, college, university, technical college, other post-secondary institution, or in any publicly owned building, without the express permission of the authorities in charge of the premises or property. The provisions of this subsection related to any premises or property owned, operated, or controlled by a private or public school, college, university, technical college, or other post-secondary institution, do not apply to a person who is authorized to carry a concealed weapon pursuant to Article 4, Chapter 31, Title 23 when the weapon remains inside an attended or locked motor vehicle and is secured in a closed glove compartment, closed console, closed trunk, or in a closed container secured by an integral fastener and transported in the luggage compartment of the vehicle."